Pro tip: use a piece of scrap leather to protect your spine when you hammer in those finishing nails

I was binding a book in my garage last Saturday and bent the spine on a gift copy for my sister because I forgot the leather pad, now I keep one taped to my workbench and haven't had a dent since, anyone else got a simple trick they swear by?

2 comments

2 Comments

faith6841d ago

Actually I used to think leather was overkill and just folded up a rag or used cardboard, but then I wrecked a really nice leather journal I was making for my buddy's wedding. The rag slipped halfway through and left a crease across the whole spine. Now I swear by a scrap of thick veg tan leather I cut from an old belt, and it's like the hammer hits just sink in perfectly without any bounce-back. Never going back to rags or cardboard after that disaster, you're totally right about this one. A buddy of mine laughed at me for keeping it on my bench but he tried it once and now he's got his own piece taped up too.

hollyc921d ago

Tried cardboard once got a crease worse than your wedding journal.